Published: Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 10:32 p.m.

Staying in prime shape is a priority for Deontay Wilder. His frenetic fight schedule doesn't allow for much less.
Wilder (29-0, 29 knockouts), a Tuscaloosa native and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, looks to continue his rapid ascension through the heavyweight ranks when he takes on Nicolai Firtha (21-10-1, 8 KOs) at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday night.
I'm always training, so I'm always in great shape, and I think that's the key, especially being a heavyweight because I think some heavyweights slack off,” Wilder said. “They don't have to (make weight), and the only time when they want to train is when they have a fight coming up.

“"To stay in shape and come into camp in shape, you won't have to make up that time of not being in shape and getting everything ready.”
The fight will be Wilder's ninth in 17 months. The schedule has helped elevated him to No. 3 in the WBC heavyweight rankings and No. 4 in the WBO.
Wilder has kicked up his training in the past two weeks, using four sparring partners from around the country to get him ready.

“We've had some really good days in camp, some good sparring partners and that makes all the difference in the world,” said Jay Deas, Wilder's trainer. “He's in shape, he's ready to go. He's looking good, just ready to get in the ring.”
Even the fight week schedule stays up-tempo for Wilder, who is fighting on the undercard of the Bernard Hopkins-Karo Murat main event. Wilder left Tuscaloosa on Tuesday and will have a press conference in New York City today. From there, Wilder will head to Atlantic City, then have one more workout Thursday before Friday's official weigh-in.
Firtha, nicknamed the “Stone Man,” and Wilder have crossed paths once before; both were in camp sparring with current heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in Austria last year as he prepared to defend his title against Mariusz Wach.
Firtha, a heavy underdog to Wilder, is 2-3 in his past five fights. Conversely, none of Wilder's 29 fights has seen the end of the fourth round.

“We never take an opponent lightly,” Wilder said. “No matter what people say or what people try to put in your ear, 'Oh, you're going to blow him out,' this and that. That's not the case. Every fighter that steps in the ring has a puncher's chance.
“I'm human, too. If I get hit the right way I can go down, and that wouldn't be a good look. We take every opponent seriously, I don't look past anyone, and I don't want anyone to look past me.”
One thing is certain: Wilder knows his body is ready for any challenge.
“We want to train hard so we can make the work look easy. When it comes time for me to fight in front of all those cameras, man, I love it. That's when I have fun. And when you have fun doing something, you don't want to stop it.”